Soft-tread horseshoe



Patented Oct. ll, I898.

m. c. GRAY. SOFT TREAD HOBSESHOE.

(Application filed Jan. 18, 1898.)

(No Model.)

IN VENTOR A 770/?NE Y.

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'NITED STATES MILTON CLARKE GRAY, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

SOFT-TREAD HORSESHOE,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,200, dated October 11, 1898.

Application filed January 18,1888. Serial No. 667,050. on. model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON CLARKE GRAY, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain useful Improvements in Soft-Tread Horseshoes; and I do hereby declare that the'following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others The aim of my invention is to provide an adjustable sole-bearing and frog-supporting shoe so constructed as to automatically spread the heel. By virtue of my improved horseshoe there is provided a proper supply of moisture to the frog and sole, the frog-shield preventing any bruising of the same, and also aiding in preventing a descent of the pedalbone or dropping of the sole, thus acting to naturally support the hoof, opening the heels, expanding the coronary band, and providing a full and free circulation of the entire foot. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a bottom view of a two-part horseshoe with portions removed embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows a cross-section on line 2 z of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a broken sectional View on line .2 z of Fig. 1. Fig. A shows a sectional view on line a .2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows an enlarged detail of the corrugated portion of the shoe, disclosing the embedded chain. Fig. 6 showsa central sectional view disclosing the chain, while Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view on line a .2 of Fig. 1.

In the use of the horseshoes as ordinarily constructed the whole foot is raised from the ground, the weight-supporting area or surface being diminished nearly or quite onehalf, the bearing-surface being distributed around the three-quarter section of the outer circumference of the wall of the foot, the narrow rim supporting all the weight of the animal. This overtaxing of the same and the delicate structure connected thereto often results in injury to the foot. It has been conceded that one function of the frog is to support the navicular bone in its arch directly under the second phalanx and between the wings of thelateral cartilages. Now it has been pointed out that as ordinarily constructed the shoe leaves the frog suspended, while in my shoe a cushioned support is pro- .vided affording a protection to the under surface of the animals feet, stimulating and bringing into action the great base of the arch. From this it will be seen that I provide a natural sole-bearing frog-support, and in inclining the upper rear section of my shoe,

as will be disclosed, I further provide an automatic heel-spreader operative through the structural peculiarity of the shoe, the frog pressure orsupport and heel-spreader acting tions, andthese half-sections comprisethe rear or heel portions 1, the intermediate corrugated portions 2, and the forward pivoted ends 3, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. ,These two similar shoe-sections areapproximately in the shape of an I-beam in cross-section, the downward and upward extending flanges being of unequal length, the "depending flanges preferably being a little longer than the upwardly-extending flanges, as'may be noticed in referring to Figs. 2, 4., and 7.

In referring to Fig. 4., which represents a sectional view on line 5 2 of Fig. 1, it will be noticed that the central portion or the main plate A of the shoe is of an equal thickness. That portion, however, of the shoe near the rear and marked 1 is preferably made to slant upward and inward, as is shown in Fig. 2, which represents a view on line z of Fig. 1, and as these rear or heel sections 1 of the shoe both slant inwardly the animals heel is naturally always tending to shift ontward upon both sides, insuring a gentle spreading of the heel, as no nails are driven at the rear portion of the horses hoof. These two shoe-sections are provided at suitable points within the corrugated portion 2 of the shoe with suitable nail-openings 5, preferably positioned near the outer flange Z), as is disclosed in Fig. 1. At their forward edges 3 the two shoe-sections are united by means of a suitable rivet c, which passes through an opening within each shoe-section to movably connect them.

To further insure lasting surface near the forward portion of the shoe, which is adapted to receive the greatest wear, I provide the extending wedge-shaped ribs 13 13, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The flanges b are preferably corrugated their full length at the points where the nail-holes are positioned, as is shown in Fig. 1. However, I do not wish to confine myself exclusively to the use of a corrugation, as the shoe-sections could be provided with small flanges if desired.

In referring to Figs. 2, 3, 4., 6, and 7 it will be noticed that by means of the flanges a retaining-web is provided, and this retainingweb is used to hold the upper non-conducting material 18, which comes adjoining the wall and sole of the horses foot and may be of compressed fibrous material or any other suitable substance, while another depending flange is bent just a little inward and so forms a biting-nib for the elastic tread 1 of any suitable material, as has been shown.

In referring to Fig. 2 the upper surface of the upper filling 18 is shown as slanted by the line m, and this slanting is what insures the hoof naturally spreading outward. Now in order to provide a suitable support for the frog I provide ashield which in cross-section is in the shape of an I-beam, having a short upper and a long lower flange and which is further provided with an upper filler or cushion 8 of any suitable material and a lower elastic tread 1, as is shown in Fig. 3. This frog-shield is adjustably held within the shoe in being provided with the outwardly-extending plates 7, which are provided with suitable holes, so as to accommodate the rivets 12, which rivets pass through the body B of the shield and the plate 7 and below are secured to a suitable plate 10, so as to more snugly secure these plates 7 and keep them away from the filler or tread 1, which is immediately below this plate 10. The two hinged shoe-sections are next provided with the preferably conical pins 6, the conical heads of which preferably pass through an opening within the tread 1, then through the plates 7, and finally having its upper end riveted, so as to snugly and securely connect the plates 7 '7 to the hinged shoe-sections. By this means it will be noticed I provide a two-part horseshoe pivotally connected by means of the pin 0 and provided with an up per non-conductlng bed 8, adapted to receive the horses hoof, and a lower soft tread l. A frog-supporting shield is further provided which touches the ground its full length and is adapted to come in contact with and support the frog of the horses hoof. This frogshield may be movably held, so that in case any stone should work into the shoe the frogshield can be adjusted to remove the same. It will further be noticed that by virtue of the corrugations these shoe-sections may be curved so as to conform to the different shaped hoofs.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be noticed that the chain-links 2' are shown, which are connected by means of pins 6 and within which are shown the horseshoe-nails D. These chain-links are provided and cast within the lower soft tread 1, and while thereby the tread is securely fastened to the shoe-sections they are movably and elastically held and supported.

In Fig. 6 a central sectional view disclosing the position of the nails has been shown. This embedded chain is of special service where the shoe is used in conjunction with dray and draft animals. In the construction of this shoe any suitable material or metal may be used, and so also may the upper and lower filler, providing the cushion and tread be of any suitable material. I find, however, a convenient method is to cast the shoe proper in aluminium, which is then subjected to a great pressure, and then provide the same with a soft tread and non-conducting cushion.

The device is noticeable because of its extreme simplicity; and now,

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is-

1. A horseshoe-body in cross-section in the form of the letter I, having the heel ends inclined upwardly toward one another.

2.. A two-part horseshoe having the sections pivotally connected, said shoe-sections being provided with upwardly and downwardly extending'flanges, a soft tread within said lower flanges and a non-conducting substance within said upper flanges as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A two-part horseshoe-body pivotally connected, having upwardly and downwardly extending corrugated flanges.

4:. The combination with a two-part horseshoe, the sections being pivotally connected, of upwardly and downwardly extending flanges, a non-conducting cushion within the upper flange, a soft tread within the lower flange, and a frog-support movably secured to said shoe-sections, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a horseshoe-body of the usual conformation provided with an upwardly and downwardly extending flange surrounding the edges of said shoe.

6. The combination with a two-part horseshoe, said two sections being provided with an upper non-conducting surface and a lower soft tread, a frog-shield, arms movably eX-' tending from said frog-shield and movably secured to said pivoted shoe-sections, as set forth.

7. The combination of a two-part horseshoe-body, said shoe-sections being pivotally connected, of upwardly and downwardly extending flanges surrounding said frog-shield, and arms movably extending from said frogshield and movably secured to said shoe-sections, as and -for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination with a two-part horseshoe, said two shoe-sections being pivotally connected, upwardly and downwardly extending flanges surrounding said shoe-sections, a portion of said flanges being corrugated, a non conducting filler held by said upper flanges, a lower soft tread held by said lower flanges, of a frog-shield provided with upwardly and downwardly extending flanges, a

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 30 in presence of two witnesses. 7

MILTON CLARKE GRAY.

Witnesses: EDWARD S. STREETER, GEORGE W. SUEs. 

